Tinnitus is the phantom auditory perception of sound in the absence of an external or internal acoustic stimulus. It is a frequent problem which can interfere significantly with the ability to lead a normal life.
Treatment is difficult. Most available therapies focus on habituation rather than treating the cause. Tinnitus is thought to be generated in the brain, as a result of functional reorganization of auditory neural pathways and tonotopic maps in the central auditory system, following damage to the peripheral auditory system. Low-frequency rTMS has been investigated for the treatment of hyperexcitability disorders such as auditory hallucinations and tinnitus.
Pilot data indicate that the beneficial effect of low-frequency rTMS can be enhanced by low frequency rTMS of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).
In the proposed study we investigate whether low frequency rTMS of the DLPFC improves therapeutic efficacy of low-frequency rTMS on tinnitus in a controlled trial.
Enrollment: 50
Study Start Date: April 2009
Study Completion Date: December 2010
Primary Completion Date: December 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Combined Low Frequency Frontal and Temporal rTMS Treatment in Chronic Tinnitus
Whether low frequency rTMS of the DLPFC improves therapeutic efficacy of low-frequency rTMS.